Amusement apparatus



Jan. 14, 1930. M. FERTIK 1,743,536

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed July 27, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 14, 1930. M. FERTIK AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed July 27, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 xmw BY TTORNEY Jab. 14, 1930. M, FER lK 1,743,536

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed July 27, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 NVFNTOR WITNESSES n m; /%x EET/Pf BY I H M [F ATTORNEY Jan. 14, 1930. M. FE RTIK AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed July 27, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 :m: m a

WAX 71,1

INVENTOR TTORNEY Patented Jan. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES MAX FER'IIK, OF BROOKLYN, NEXV YORK AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Application filed July 27,

This invention relates to amusement devices.

The invention contemplates the provision of an amusement device for testing strength in which a novel maximum indicating means is provided in the form of some picturesque occurrence such as the simulation of the sinking of a battleship, or the like event. Among the objects of the invention is to provide an amusement device of this character which shall be highly attractive and interesting as a competitive strength testing amusement device, may be very easily operated, shall be comparatively simple in construction, and

a efiicient in operation to a high degree.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in an apparatus of the character described in which a weighted member is propelleo along an inclined plane and directed toward an indicating device, means for protecting the operator from injury upon return of said member.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an apparatus of the character described, a w 'hted member capable of having its effective weight varied that the force necessary to propel it to the maximum osition may be varied, and the apparatus thereby made adjustable for use by various classes of people of varied conditions of bodily strength.

A further object of this invention is to provide, in a weighted member of the character above described in which a plurality of plates are utilized, a cushioning means mounted within the weighted member to maintain the plates in a fixed relation and also to take up any shocks occurring during the movement of the wei hted member.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement or" parts which will 1927. Serial No. 208,707.

be exemplified in the construction hereina ter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the apoaratus assembled for operation.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational view on line 38 of Fig. 1 showing the indicating device associated with the amusement apparatus.

Fig. l is a vertical, sectional view on line l-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow and showing the weighted member about to actuate the parts to the indicating position.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. (3 showing the indicating means after the weighted member has actuated same to the indicating position.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the indicating vice, showing the interior assembly. 7

F ig. T is a detailed sectional view disclosing the means for releasing the indica... means for movementto the indicating tion.

Fig 8 is a vertical, sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 7, showing the parts in position before movement to the indicatin position.

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 2 showing the construction oi the weighted member.

Fig. 10 is a vertical, sectional view on line 1010 of Fig. 9, illustrating means for retaining the weighted member on its track.

F 11 is a sectional view on line 1l11 of Fig. 2 showing the weighted mem er moving up the trestle.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 11 showing the weighted member moving down the trestle.

Fig. 13 is a detailed, sectional view showing the means for resisting movement of said member in its normal position.

posi- Fig. 1a is a partial plan view showing a butler member and guard therefor.

Fig. is a side elevational View .with parts broken away to show the construction of the buffer and guard members.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the

apparatus embodying the invention there shown may be generally described as comprising a trestle 10 upon which is mounted for movement a weighted member 11, the latter being movable up an inclined portion 12- of said trestle to actuate an indicating device 13 if the operator has exerted suthcient force upon said member to vequal the ultimate strength for which the device is set. 'lhe 1ndication is given either by the sounding of gong 14-, or by simulating the sinking of a battleship 15. Then, as the weighted member 11 returns down the trestle 10, its movement will be retarded by the resisting means 16, the weighted mei'nber finally comingto rest within the guard 17 when it contacts with the buffer 18.

More specifically described, the apparatus consists of a casing 19 made up of angle. irons 20 which provides a support for a front panel 21 and a rear panel 22, the front panel being decorated in any manner, as for example to simulate the waves of the sea, while the rear panel 22 which has a portion 23 extending above the level of the top edge of the front panel 21, is decorated to simulate clouds or the like. Extending forward from the front panel 21 is the trestle 10 made up in any well known manner to provide a supporting struc-' ture, 2 1 upon which are carried the rails 25 of track Mounted for movement on tracks 25 is the weighted member 11. This member is shaped for obvious reasons to simulate a torpedo or ll and comprises a casing a removable en ortion 27 secured to casing 26 by any suitable fastening means 28 Retained within the casing 26 are flat round plates 29, the number of which may be varied at the will of the person in charge of the amusement device. A spring housed in casing 25 normally bears upon the end plate 29 which s formed with hub 29 for maintaining spr ng 30 in central position and against end portion 27 which is provided with a recess 27 for receiving the other end of said spring to main tain the plates in a relatively fined position within casing 26. Casing 26 is fastened to a truck 31 which comprises angle irons 32', 32 the latter contacting with the casing and being held fixed thereto by means of a plate or bracket 33 removably secured to casing 26 hv he fastening means 34:.

Mounted on the angles 32 are the axles 35 of wheels 36 which wheels are received upon track 25 in the well known manner. Extending downwardly from angle irons and out into contact with the under edge 37 of a flange 38 on rai is the angular member 39.

This angular member serves to prevent any vertical movement of weighted member 11 with respect to tracks 25 in order to guard said member against falling off the tracks at any period of its operation.

Extending from casing 26 and detachably secured thereto is the handle 40 by which the operator is enabled to propel the weighted member 11 for the purpose hereinafter described. Attached to angle iron 32 is a pointer 41 which is adapted for cooperation with indications 12 mounted on inclined portion 12 of trestle 10.

Mounted on pivot 43 secured in panels 21 and 22 is the plate a l formed and painted to simulate any desired object such as battleship 15. This plate l i is made integral with or secured in any well-known manner to the weight 6 .5, the latter being provided with a slot as having an enlarged opening 4'7 at one end thereof. Slidably received in said openl-i is the rod 48. This rod has a diameter throughoutits length sufficient to pass through opening l? but, except for reduced portion 49, not small enough to be received within at to. Reduced portion l9 on said rod, however, is receivable in said slot. lVhen plate a is in the position shown in Fig. 3, spring acting against the collar 51 on rod 48 which is slidably supported in openin s in panels 21 and 22 will move the latter :0 that its larger diameter will be received in opening 47. Plate 14; will then be retained in the position of Fig. 3. If the operator has sufficient strength to move weighted member 11 up inclined portions 12 of trestle 10 so that end 27 will be brought into contact with the protruding end 52 of rod d8, the reduced portion 49 will be brought into alignment with the slot as and plate 4%, assisted by weight 45, will fall into the position shown in Big. 5.. thereby to simulate the sinkin of a ship. Guiding brackets 53 may be priiperlv positioned to restrain any sidewise moveineiit of plate 4i and weighted Attached to weight to in any suitable manner is the arm do on which the counterwei ht 15 is adapted for adjustable mountin bv means of the hook 15 and the eyes 45 A cable {[5 attached to the lower end of counterweight 45 in any suitable manner and carried to an exterior side of casing 19 permits the one in charge of the apparatus to raise the plate 44 to the visible position after it has fallen to simulate sinking so that rod 48 may again be actuated to lock the plate in positlon.

To provide an auditory indication of the users skill the gong 14: will be operated simultaneously with the movement of rod 48 btriker 54: pivotally supported on front panel 21 is mounted normally to abut the end of and to be actuated to strike the gon 14 bv th pusher rod 55 slidably received throu h tront panel 21 and a bracket 57 supported externally of said casing, stop 56 being fixed to rod to limit forward movement thereof. In order to actuate rod 55 simultaneously with rod 48, some suitable part on member 11, as frame member 58, attached to angle irons 32, is formed to contact the end of rod 55 at the same time that portion 27 engages end 52 of rod 48. A tension spring 59 normally acts to retain striker 5ft spaced from gong 1% and in contact with pusher rod 55.

After the member 11 has reached the top of its flight and starts to return, it will tend to accelerate down the inclined portion 12 of trestle 10. In order to reduce the shock which must result if the weighted member be permitted to roll down the plane without hindrance. the resisting means 16 is provided and constitutes a number of pivoted arms 60 having a flat surface 61 and a rounded surface 62. Arms 60 are pivoted on crossbars 63 secured to trestle 10. Secured to each arm is a eavy spring 6%, the other end of the spring being attached to a rod 65 slidably received in an opening 67 provided in a bracket member 68 likewise supported on a cross member 63. Stops 69, 69 are secured on rod 65 to limit longitudinal movement of said rod. A light spring 66 is received around each rod 65 between bracket 68 and stop 69 and tends normally to retain arm 60 in a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 13.

Frame member 58 secured to weighted member 11 has formed therein a number of perforations 70 which are so positioned that arm 60 will enter them whenever weighted member 11 passes thereby. On upward movement of weighted member 11, spring 6% w1 ll not be affected, tending to act as a rlgid member, but light spring 66 will be slightly compressed, as appears from Fig. 11. However, no resistance of an appreciable character will result from such compression. On downward movement of member 11, however, rear stop 69 engages bracket 68 whenever the under-surface of frame member 58 engages the pivoted arm 60. At such engagement point, the spring Set is placed in tension and will apply a braking force to frame member 58, restraining member 11 in its downward flight. The perforations 70 are provlded to give a clicking sound, as the device operates, and also to partially relieve member 11 from the braking action at points in its movement to allow partial acceleration.

After the member 11 is released from the last arm (50, it attains a certain speed whlch makes necessary some means for stopping the device to prevent its rolling off track at the end of the trestle. Butler 18 is provided for this purpose and constitutes a buffer shell 71 having a resilient pad applied at the contacting end thereof and being slidably received over shell 72 and retained thereon by means of a pin and slot 73. Buffer 18 is fixedly secured to an upright 74 on which is carried the guard 17. Said guard is so p0- sitioned that the hand of a person operating the device cannot be brought within the danger area of the buffer unless by intent. Mounted on the trestle 10 at any convenient point, preferably alon the lower portions of inclined portion 12, is an indicating device 75 rotatably mounted on a cross bar 63 and having a part 75 to be operatively engaged bytheindicatororpointer41. This indicating device 75 has numerals or the like thereon for positively disclosing the number of times the weighted member 11 has been actuated by any particular operator. T he indicating deivce may have secured thereto a totaling register for indicating the whole number of trips made by member 11 throughout a certain period.

The operation of this device is simple and will easily be understood from the previous description. Briefly summarized the opera tion is as follows: The operator grasps handle 40 and, by the exertion of bodily force, propels member 11 along trestle 10 and along the horizontal portion 7 6 of trestle 10. if a SHfllClGDt impetus is given this member, it will ride up the inclined portion 12, actuating the arms 60 by compressing the spring 66, while the pointer 41 will cooperate with the indications 42 which are carried on plates 77 supported along one of the parts of trestle 10. If the original impetus is sufiicient, the end 27 of member 11 will be brought into engagement with the end 52 of rod 48, bringing the reduced portion 46 into alignment with slot 49 to allow plate 44 and weight 45 to simulate the sinking of the battleship painted thereon. As the weighted member recedes down the inclined portion 12, said member will again engage the arms 60 tensioning spring 64 for the required braking action and finally come into engagement with buffer 18. During the upward movement of member 11, indicating device 75 will have been properly actuated. It will be understood, of course. that the invention may be applied on a large scale as an installation in amusement parks, and the like places, or ma be embodied in small toy form for assembly in the home for the amusement of children.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1.. A muscular strength testing and amusement device having means for positively indicating a degree of muscular strength, said means including apparatus for simulating the sinking of a ship.

2. A muscular strength testing and amusement device including a movable weight and having means "for positively indicating a degree oi: muscular strength, said means including apparatus for simulating the sinkin of a ship.

A muscular strength testing and amusement device provided with an inclined plane, a weight movable up said inclined plane and havin means for positively indicating a degree or muscular strength, said means including apparatus for simulating the sinking of a ship.

4. A device for testing muscular strength comprising a track, a weight movable upon said track, and means for positively indicating a degree of muscular strength, said means including a pivotally mounted unbalanced member, means for maintaining said member in fixed position, and means cooperating with said weight for withdrawing said maintaining means to permit said pivoted member to oscillate.

5. A device for testing muscular strength comprising an inclined track having rails, a weight mounted on a truck movable upon said track, and means connected to said truck and coacting with said rails for retaining said weight upon said track.

6. A device for testing muscular strength comprising an inclined plane, a weight movable upon said plane, and means for retarding movement of said weight down said plane, said means permitting free movement of said weight up said plane.

7. A device for testing muscular strength comprising means for positively indicating a degree of muscular strength, said means including apparatus for simulating the sinking of a battleship, said apparatus including a plate, and means for retaining said plate in a fixed position.

8. A device for testingmuscular strength comprising means for positively indicating a degree of muscular strength, said means including apparatus for simulating the sinking of a battleship, said apparatus including a plate, means for retaining said plate in a fixed position, and means for releasing said retaining means.

9. In an amusement apparatus for testing muscular strength, an indicator comprising a screen, a plate, means for retaining said plate in one position with respect to said screen, and means for releasing said retaining means to permit movement of said plate to another position.

10. In an amusement apparatus for testing muscular strength, an indicator comprising a screen, a plate pivotally mounted with relation to said screen, said plate having a slot provided with an enlarged end, a pin receivable through said enlarged end portion and having a reduced portion for slidable reception in said slot, and means for reciprocating said pin. 7 c

11. A device of the character described comprising a trestle having connecting inclined and horizontal portions, a weight movable upon said trestle, means tor retarding said weight when moving down said inclined portion, said means permitting free movement of said weight up said portion, and a butter on said horizontal portion.

12. A device of the character described comprising a trestle having connecting inclined and horizontal portions, a weight movable upon said trestle, means for retarding said weight when moving down said inclined portion, said means permitting free movement or said weight up said portion, a bufi'er on said horizontal portion, and guard means at said butter.

13. A device of the character described comprising a trestle having connecting inclined and horizontal portions, a weight movable upon said trestle, means for retarding said weight when moving down said inclined portion, said means permitting tree movement of said weight up said portion, indications on said trestle, and an indicator on said weight for cooperation with said indications.

14-. A device oi the character. described comprising a trestle having connecting inclined and horizontal portions, a weight movable upon said trestle, means for retarding said weight when moving down said inclined portion, said means permitting free movement of said weight up said portion, and means for indicating the number of trips of said weight up said inclined portion.

15. A plane, a weighted member movable thereon, a frame portion for said member having perforations therein, means mounted on said plane, and cooperating with said perforations to restrain movement of said member in one direction. 1

16. A weighted member comprising a casing, a removable end portion for said casing, plates removably positioned in said casing, and resilient means for retaining said plates in position. r

17. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a pair of inclined tracks, a weighted member mounted on said tracks, a handle member extending from the side of said weight member for propelling said member on said track by human muscular force, and means for indicating that the force has been suiiicient to propel said weighted member up the full incline or" said tracks, said indicator means adapted to 

